PD gets grant for enforcement, prevention

The Ridgecrest Police Department has been awarded a $99.670 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways through special enforcement and public awareness efforts. The grant received by Ridgecrest will aid in the city’s ongoing effort to improve traffic safety and the quality of life.

The police department will use the funding as part of an ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe through both enforcement and education.

According to Chief of Police Ron Strand, the grant will assist in efforts to deal with traffic safety problems and to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions.

Traffic deaths from all causes declined by nearly 39 percent between 2006 and 2010 in California, but rose by 2.6 percent in 2011. State and federal officials anticipate that figures will show another rise for 2012. DUI deaths remain the largest sector, at nearly 30 percent of traffic fatalities. Recent trends show increases in two new categories—distracted driving and drug-impaired driving.